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| | | BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // June 2026 | | Dear Globetrotters,
I just landed back in Denmark this morning after USA Camp in Maine. It is always one of the most intense weeks of the year for us, but also one of the most fun. A big thanks to the 200+ participants who came out to the forest with us! Dates are confirmed for June 7-13 next year and tickets will be available soon.
Here is the updated ticket status for the upcoming camps this year: | | | |
What you'll find in this month's newsletter: - Photos from USA Camp Maine last week
- Featured Globetrotter: Juditte Juul Diab
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Rogue Wave Jiu-Jitsu
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| | | Join our family friendly Jiu Jitsu and skiing camp in January |
| | We’re introducing a special, separate Winter Camp with a family-friendly focus. In a hotel exclusively for us, there will be skiing, snowboarding, Jiu-Jitsu, schnitzel, sleigh rides, waterparks, and plenty of activities for children of all ages. If you’ve ever wanted to come to one of our camps, but weren’t sure how to balance it with keeping the kids entertained, this is the one for you!
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| | | | Photos from USA Camp Maine last week |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 family rooms left for Austria Camp this summer! |
| | For this summer camp, we’re heading to beautiful Wagrain for five days of training among the rolling hillsides that are now brilliantly green and ready for you to explore.
We will have lots of Jiu Jitsu and activities for all ages!
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| | | | Featured Globetrotter: Juditte Juul Diab |
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| | Age: 30
Belt: Blue
Profession: Nutritionist
How many years in BJJ: 4
Other martial arts: Judo as a child
Where do you live: Oslo, Norway
Where are you from: Stavanger, Norway
Any fun facts you'd like to share: My childhood crush was Jackie Chan |
| | What inspired you to travel and train? I accidentally fell into travelling and training pretty early in my BJJ journey, and loved it so much that I've kept going ever since. I had only trained Jiu-Jitsu for a short time, and was an extremely enthusiastic and obsessed whitebelt. A friend told me about some camp called “Globetrotters”, and that they did a fun mix of training, travelling and socializing. I immediately went home and did some research, and by the end of the evening I had booked my first Globetrotters camp: the Summer Beach camp in Estonia.
In all honesty, I was a nervous wreck before going, scared that everyone would be bigger, better, cooler, more competitive. Originally, my plan was to do the camp for a week, and then maybe travel around Estonia for the next week before going home again. But little did I know what was coming for me….
At the end of my first Beach Camp, my mind was blown. There were definitely people who were bigger, better, cooler, and more competitive, but it just so happened that they were also funny, inspiring, great teachers, and generally amazing. At the final party on the last day of camp, I had decided to travel for one more week before going back home, but I had also decided that I wanted to do more camps in the future. Having settled on this plan, I enjoyed myself and sensed no trouble, until Jorgen Matsi came walking over. During the conversation, he casually drops the information that he has to sell his ticket for Zen Camp, which was going to happen at the end of October, and was sold out. Then suddenly, probably because of too many beers (and for sure too many Minttus), a thought popped into my mind. I wonder if I could just keep travelling from now until the end of October if I used around half of all my savings? So I said yes to buying Jorgen’s ticket, and took on the challenge of training and travelling my way through Europe for the next 4 months. Spoiler: I spent all of my savings.
From July til October, I travelled through 14 different countries, visiting gyms and training with new people. I also ended up doing two additional Globetrotters camps, Heidelberg and Austria, along the way. At the end of the trip, I finally made it to Poland to finish off at Zen Camp. By then, I knew this was something I would keep doing for many years to come, and I've been travelling and training ever since.
Tell us about your most recent trip and what's next – where have you been and where are you going?
My most recent trip is one that I just got back from a few weeks ago. For the past 9 months, I've been living in Tanzania, in a small village called Ilula. A year ago, I was offered a position which proposed that I temporarily relocate to Africa and work on a farming project. I more or less immediately said yes, knowing very little about where I was going or what I was actually going to do there. Still, it had always been a dream of mine to live abroad, and to get to experience a completely different culture than my own. So in August I packed up my apartment in Oslo and left, once again feeling very nervous about what was to come.
Ilula is a small village about 12 hours into the country by bus, from the big city Dar es Salaam. To say that Ilula is isolated is an understatement, and yet Tanzania has a very large population, and so the village is crowded still. In many ways for me, it felt a bit like going back in time to when I was a child, when there was no wi-fi, no smartphones, and no access to binge-worthy TV shows. I washed my clothes by hand, and bought food at the local market, where the availability was whatever was growing in the area that season. Because of the hot weather, most people spent their days and evenings outside, cooking on the fire, and generally socializing in a way that I'm only used to seeing in peak summertime back in cold Norway. Getting to take part in the small village community was an incredibly special experience, and I've found myself missing it a lot after I came back. At the same time, there were also parts from home that I missed. Friends and family, having access to a washing machine, going out to buy a cup of coffee, and getting whatever I wanted from the supermarket. But of course, the thing I missed the most was training Jiu-Jitsu at my home gym, which is how I ended up finding a new, temporary home gym in Dar es Salaam.
I joined an amazing gym called Renegade Fight Academy and MMA Dar. Even though I was living far away, I spent a lot of my free time travelling back and forth to Dar, just so I could train with everyone there. Having a surrogate home gym, a home away from home, meant an indescribable amount to me. Considering I was living in a foreign country, visiting a very large city I didn't know, taking part in a completely different culture with a new language I could not speak, it was all quite an overwhelming experience. But the way I was welcomed into that gym made me feel so safe, like I not only had a place where I belonged, but people I could go to if I needed help or to ask questions, friends to hang out with, lunch and dinner company, and anything else I might need. Considering I’m just a few weeks fresh from this really profound experience, I haven’t quite figured out what’s next yet. But I know myself, and I know that it doesn't take long before I start feeling like I need to shake things up a bit. Still, in two weeks I’m travelling to Finland for the Midsummer Camp, and I will for sure do one or two more camps before the end of 2026. |
| | What do you enjoy most about travelling? It might be the most obvious answer, but for me the people I meet make it all worth it. One of my favorite feelings is getting to know people at a new gym, having fun/intense/exhausting rolls, and then going out grabbing a meal or a drink after training. A mix of that post-jits bliss, combined with making new friends in a new city just ticks all my boxes. Also meeting local people where I’m travelling means that there's always someone who can give me the best tips on where to go, what to see, where to eat, and what to do. I've spent a lot of time over the years travelling alone, and so anytime someone wants to join me I find it's usually a great addition. A joy shared is twice the joy (or however that saying goes).
Any particularly memorable experiences that made it all worth it?
By far too many to mention, I think. Meeting a fellow globetrotter at camp and spending one month together driving through Southern Europe. Swimming in cold lakes in Austria, the Siberian wind that blew into Finland during the winter of 2024 and brought the temperature down to - 28C. Which was cold, even for a Norwegian! Seeing the street art in Belgrade, street singing (and wine!) in Georgia, eating Paczki (filled doughnuts) in Krakow, driving coast-to-coast and training across (what felt like) all of the USA and seeing amazing sites along the way, getting invited to a new gym's Christmas party in Venice, and my first ever competition in Dar es Salaam. I've been extremely lucky on my travels, and except for a few broken fingers, toes, and most recently a broken ankle before leaving Tanzania, I still haven't had any major travelling experiences that have not been worth it. Even though there have been some pretty rough days along the way, looking back all the experiences, big and small, ups and downs, made it worth it in the end.
What has surprised you the most while travelling? The length people are willing to go to help out someone they do not know or have just met. This is by far what has surprised me the most, and keeps surprising me again and again. Travelling this much has given me a profound certainty that the majority of people, no matter where you go around the world, are good, kind and loving people. More times than I can count have I been left with a sense of wonder and a feeling of humbleness when experiencing just how helpful and caring strangers are. I've been in several crises along the way. Broken bones, lost wallets, lost phones, no money, lost passport (don’t judge me), political conflicts and riots, missed flights, or simply just scared to walk home alone at night. I have, to this day, never been left in a crisis alone, even though I've travelled a lot by myself. Airbnb hosts, gym members, Tuktuk drivers, waiters, hostel guests, fellow Jiujitsu-ers, shop owners, and even strangers on the street have gone above and beyond to help me when I have needed it the most. People who have helped me in situations where I have felt extremely vulnerable hold a special place in my heart, and it keeps surprising me how many they are.
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| | | Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip? Most of the time I am, though it's been various degrees of budgeting throughout my twenties. I like to pay for as much as possible up front, such as flight tickets and accommodation (if I'm staying in the same place for the whole trip). If not, I usually book the first few nights in advance, and then book as I go. Hot tip is that I always find out where I want to stay by searching common booking sites, but then call the hotel/hostel directly and ask for a better price. Many times they'll give it! Other than that, I usually research any special activities I want to do, and see if I can book some of them in advance. I especially do this when I'm on shorter trips, as I've realized that spending too much time during your trip planning your next days ahead is not that fun. It eats up actual vacation time, so the more I can spend time planning in advance, the more I can enjoy while I am there.
Any advice for your fellow Globetrotters? It might sound cliche, but being scared is part of it. It just is, and it will never go away, so try and find peace with fear. I'm always nervous and sometimes even full-on scared when I do things. Going to my first Globetrotters camp I was nervous, travelling alone for 4 months I was scared, and leaving for Tanzania I was terrified. I still get nervous when I contact a new gym on Instagram and ask if I can come train with them. I always have a knot in my stomach when I show up to the first class, or worst of all, the first open mat where I don’t know anyone. Everytime I'm on the plane, I feel uneasy wondering if this is finally the time I've bitten off more than I can chew. But whether it's travelling or training, the scary parts are usually beforehand. Once you're there, the pressure drops, and the things that seemed big and scary suddenly feel normal sized and manageable. The scariest things I have done in my life have been directly proportional to the amount of growth it has provided. And so my little mantra the last few years has been to listen and explore the things inside myself that I’m scared of, because that is where I’ve found most of my gold. |
| | | | | Our week long Arizona Camp has quickly become a staple for our community in the US. All day classes, open mats and workshops, combined with on-site barbecues and breathtaking landscapes.
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| | | | BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Rogue Wave Jiu-Jitsu |
| | Where is the gym located?
Our gym is located in Chico, California, USA, in Northern California near Bidwell Park and California State University, Chico.
How many people train there?
We currently have approximately 25 active students training regularly.
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
Yes. The gym is steadily growing, averaging about 4–5 new members each month as more people in the community discover Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and its benefits.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training? We have students ranging from brand-new white belts all the way through black belt practitioners.
When did the gym open?
The academy opened in September 2025.
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| | Some facts about you:
Name: Stephen Gordon Age: 41 Belt: Black Belt (awarded in 2023) Profession: I work as a Home Care Manager, helping coordinate care and services for seniors and individuals who need assistance to remain independent. Outside of work, I run and teach at our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy. Years in BJJ: 20 Other martial arts: Muay Thai kick boxing, MMA training and competition Currently living in: Chico, California, USA Originally from: Orange County, California, USA |
| | Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence Like many academy owners, I didn’t come from a full-time martial arts background. By day, I work as a Home Care Manager, and outside of work I dedicate my time to teaching and building our Jiu-Jitsu community. In many ways, both roles are about helping people improve their lives, gain confidence, and become more capable.
After training for over 20 years and earning my black belt in 2023, opening the academy was a natural way to share what Jiu-Jitsu has given me while helping grow the local martial arts community in Chico. I wanted to create the kind of training environment that I always appreciated throughout my own journey—a place where people could learn authentic Jiu-Jitsu in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
When I settled in Chico, I saw an opportunity to build a strong community centered around self-defense, personal growth, and technical Jiu-Jitsu. Our focus is on creating an environment where beginners feel comfortable, advanced students continue to grow, and everyone enjoys the process of learning together.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? Our students come from all walks of life. We have college students, teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, tradespeople, business owners, parents, and retirees. Some are interested in competition, while others simply want to learn self-defense, improve their fitness, challenge themselves, or become part of a positive community.
One of the best parts of the academy is seeing people who would probably never meet otherwise become training partners and friends.
Why do they train? People come through the door for different reasons. Some want practical self-defense skills, some are looking for a challenging workout, and others simply want a new hobby. What keeps many of them training is the personal growth that comes with Jiu-Jitsu. It teaches resilience, humility, discipline, and confidence while creating strong friendships and a sense of belonging.
For many students, the academy becomes a second home. |
| | What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically? One of the biggest challenges is helping people understand what Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu actually is. Many people still assume martial arts are only for professional fighters or elite athletes, when in reality Jiu-Jitsu is accessible to almost anyone.
In a smaller city like Chico, community outreach and education are important. We spend a lot of time introducing people to the art and helping beginners feel comfortable taking that first step onto the mats.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
The future looks very bright. Every year more people discover the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu, whether for self-defense, fitness, competition, or personal development. As awareness continues to grow, I expect to see more families, professionals, and young people getting involved and helping strengthen the local Jiu-Jitsu community.
What’s the best thing about your gym?Without question, it’s the people. We have built a culture where everyone is welcomed, encouraged, and challenged to improve. There is a genuine sense of camaraderie on the mats, and students are invested in each other’s success. That culture is what makes the academy special
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? A visit to Chico isn’t complete without exploring Bidwell Park. With miles of trails, swimming holes, and beautiful scenery, it’s one of the best outdoor destinations in Northern California. Visitors should also spend time downtown, which has great local restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops. If you enjoy the outdoors, the surrounding foothills, lakes, and mountain areas offer endless opportunities for hiking, camping, and exploring California’s natural beauty.
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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Rogue Wave, you can contact them here. |
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